Bill > HB1013

This bill amends the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 41.06.076 to expand the list of positions within the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) that are exempt from standard civil service rules. Specifically, the bill removes previous limitations on the number of exempt positions and replaces the old language with a broader list of exempt roles. The new exemptions include the secretary, the chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, assistant secretaries, deputy assistant secretaries, senior directors, division directors, assistant and deputy division directors, regional administrators, district managers, executive officers and superintendents of institutions, and executive assistants supporting these named positions. This change gives DSHS more flexibility in staffing and management by allowing more positions to be appointed outside of traditional civil service hiring processes, which typically involve competitive examinations and strict merit-based selection criteria. The bill appears to streamline administrative hiring within the department by providing more discretion in personnel selection for key leadership and management roles.